by Stuart Gibbs
Part of Spy School, book 5
First published 2017
Ben Ripley faces his biggest challenge yet when he receives a solo assignment to prevent the president's murder. The thirteen-year-old spy must go undercover inside the White House and identify a SPYDER operative planning the assassination. Ben has succeeded in previous missions during his second year at Spy School, but he always had backup from veteran agents and classmates. This time he works alone with America's future depending entirely on him. The president's son proves useless, offering no real assistance in the investigation. The SPYDER agent blends seamlessly into the White House environment, showing no obvious signs of malicious intent. Ben struggles to unmask the threat before it's too late. When his mission falls apart, he turns to his Spy School companions for help. But Ben discovers that even trusted friends might betray him or switch sides when pressured by enemy forces.
Genres: adventure, mystery, thriller, action, espionage
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, solo-mission
Setting: White House
Period: 21st-century
352 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers